The German town of Elversberg, with a population of only 10,000, has gained prominence for hosting a Bundesliga team. Its mascot, a giant panda named Paul, has transformed the home stadium into a "sea of pandas", and interactions with Chengdu's giant pandas have attracted global attention. On Sept. 24, Aron Mir Haschemi, consul general of Germany in Chengdu, stated in an interview that the small German town shares a remarkable bond with Chengdu, and the two sides are expected to deepen exchanges and cooperation in fields such as culture and sports.

Aron Mir Haschemi, German Consul General in Chengdu, photo by Zheng Song

In the rich football culture of the Bundesliga, mascots are typically fierce animals like bears and lions, making the choice of a giant panda highly unusual. David Strauss, the club's marketing director, explained that the team's black-and-white kit naturally matches the panda's color scheme. The panda's calm and steady demeanor, seemingly gentle yet possessing immense inner strength, aligns closely with the team's spirit. China-Germany cooperation on giant panda conservation spans nearly 50 years, and Munich is set to welcome new giant pandas soon, making Germany the only European country with two giant panda facilities and highlighting this unique partnership. Coincidentally, the giant panda "Meng Yuan", born in Berlin in 2019, has a German name, Paule, which sounds similar to the mascot Paul. After "Meng Yuan" returned to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in 2023, consulate staff have frequently visited, sustaining this bond.

With its century-old football heritage and resilience embodied by the motto of "improving a little every day", Elversberg has achieved a remarkable rise from a small town to the top five European leagues, a feat hailed by the media as a miracle. Despite the vast disparity in scale compared to Chengdu, a city of 21 million, their shared passion for football has forged a close connection. Currently topping the Chinese Super League standings, Chengdu Rongcheng is poised to contend for its first-ever league title. Aron Mir Haschemi noted that lofty ambitions, relentless effort, and fan support are key to a club's sustained success, pointing to Chengdu Rongcheng's performance as compelling evidence.

Aron Mir Haschemi has repeatedly expressed his hope for the Elversberg club to visit Chengdu, noting that China-Germany exchanges extend far beyond pandas and football. In recent years, delegations from various German cities, including Bonn and Berlin, have visited Chengdu, expanding bilateral cooperation from trade and investment to scientific research, education, culture, and creative industries. He specifically highlighted significant untapped potential for collaboration in tourism, medicine, e-commerce, and green technology. Many Germans initially know little about Chengdu but fall deeply in love with the city after visiting. Tourism serves as an excellent way to bring people closer and foster friendship. At the end of the interview, Aron Mir Haschemi extended an invitation to the people of Chengdu in standard Mandarin: "Welcome to travel in Germany!"

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